Peak vs. Pique

Peak is often incorrectly used in place of pique in the phrases “pique my curiosity” or “pique my interest.” This is probably because the user believes “pique” means to raise to a higher point (which, in a way, it does), and since “peak” falls under that definition, he confuses the two.

Correct: Movies have a tendency to pique my curiosity about subjects I normally wouldn’t have thought about.

Incorrect:Movies have a tendency to peak my curiosity about subjects I normally wouldn’t have thought about

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I would like to suggest nauseous and nauseated as words for your mean schoolmarm series. Also, perhaps, a lesson on the correct meaning of “I could care less” and “irreguardless” would be useful.

http://www.freedomloversacademy.com Kristina

Oooh, and you missed ‘peek’!

http://wildlifeinthewoods.blogspot.com/ Susan in the Boonies

Oooooh. I love it when you spank me verbally!!! Feels so good!

Shari

And hey, don’t forget peaked, as in ‘pee-kid’. Meaning; ailing, indisposed, poorly, sickly, under the weather. My great grandmother used this word all the time when she thought one of us looked or acted ‘pee-kid’. She was a southern gal, and I always thought it was a made up word until I decided to look it up in the dictionary one day.

http://themhalf.blogspot.com TheMHalf

I wrote about this in June. Kristina, you might like it! 🙂 (fancy meeting you here – ha!)

I love this series – I’ve been aggravated for years on the misuse of some of these words. Could you also do: flaunt and flout, taunt and taut, disinterest and uninterest, and bravado as in people who say false bravado when bravado already means false! (My apologies if you’ve already done these – I’m new to the site.)

White

Pique is from French meaning to prick, prod, sting, etc.

In conjunction with curiosity, to pique is to awaken.

But then, it can also extend to wounding, hurt, etc., in context with pride, for instance.

Ginna Sadler

Ree, have you done lie and lay? I am a college professor and I cringe with the misuse of those two!

karen at sylvan learning

I had to explain the difference between insure, assure, and ensure to a student yesterday at work. That would be a good one for you to tackle.

http://sewconsult-ponderings.blogspot.com Beckie

There is also pique, as in a kind of fabric. It is almost a waffle weave with little indentions.

http://im-in-the-loop.blogspot.com/ Mindy

The biggest offense around these parts is that people don’t understand that there is a difference between ‘bring’ and ‘take.’ Would you like to tackle that one sometime? 😉

grammarpolicewoman

I’ve seen PEEK used in place of PIQUE many times. If you’re not sure which one to use, DON’T USE IT!! I hate being part of the grammar (and spelling!) police!

Jane B.

Thank you, Ree. Do you think you’d consider doing one on “who’s” and “whose?” They drive me nuts when I’m writing!

Ooohh. Can you please do one about the difference between “I” and “me”? I hear it used incorrectly so often I am starting to doubt myself (not a native speaker of English here!).

It is funny to see what native speakers (of any language) struggle with that is completely clear and unambiguous to people who learned that language in school. For instance, a lot of Dutch native speakers have issues with knowing when to end a verb in “d”, “t” or “dt”. It has to be said that you cannot hear the difference when pronouncing said verb, but the rules are really clear… I have been told by non-natives that they really do not see the problem.

Sheila

Something that I’ve seen twice TODAY in my blog reading is the incorrect usage of lose and loose. I think people know how to speak the correct word, but can’t seem to use the proper one when they write. (Scary- I initially started typing ‘right’ rather than ‘write’! 🙂 )

http://www.allgoodinmommyhood.com All Good in Mommyhood

Never would think to confuse these…funny how people think differently. Now affect and effect…that makes me stop and think!

http://cowpattysurprise.blogspot.com Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise)

Now, if this Ozark Farm Chick doesn’t find those two words quite perplexin’. Let’s see , I climbed to the peak of the tree ’cause the nest of baby birds piqued my curiosity. This Chick became peeked when she couldn’t climb down and had to be rescued from Farm Boy! Heeehehhee! :o)

From the silly hills and hollers of the frosty Missouri Ponderosa, ya’ll have a bright and beautiful fall day now…ya hear??? :o)

Rachel in NC

Oh, you should have done peak vs. peek vs. pique! Drives me crazy.

http://uffdadiaries.blogspot.com/ Kara S.

This is so timely! I was just reading an online news report from a local station in which the reported used “peak” when they should have used “pique.” I cannot believe that a professional reporter would get the two words confused.

http://uffdadiaries.blogspot.com/ Kara S.

Of course, there is also cotton pique, which may or may not have the accent mark on the “e.” 🙂

Katrina

I’m not sure this is exactly in the same vein, but I see so many people use “defiantly” when they mean “definitely.” I’m sure they’re just spelling it as they pronounce it (I’ve also seen people use “filling” when they mean “feeling”), but I just can’t take it any more! 🙂